AGREEMENT RENEWING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS AREA OFFICE
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
TEKSOLV – AMERICAN ALLIED SAFETY COUNCIL (AASC)
SOUTHWESTERN ILLINOIS BUILDING TRADES COUNCIL (SIBTC)
COUNCIL OF OWNERS AND CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATES, INC. (COCA)

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AGREEMENT RENEWING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS AREA OFFICE
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
TEKSOLV – AMERICAN ALLIED SAFETY COUNCIL (AASC)
SOUTHWESTERN ILLINOIS BUILDING TRADES COUNCIL (SIBTC)
COUNCIL OF OWNERS AND CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATES, INC. (COCA)

Introduction

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Fairview Heights Area Office, Teksolv – American Allied Safety Council (AASC), the Southwestern Illinois Building Trades Council (SIBTC), and the Council of Owners and Construction Associates, Inc. (COCA) continue recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA , AASC, SIBTC and COCA hereby renew the Alliance signed September 22, 2016, with a continued emphasis on reducing and preventing exposures to industrial and utility sector hazards.

Specifically, OSHA, AASC, SIBTC and COCA are committed to providing skilled trades and other industrial and utility sector stakeholders with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers, and understand the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Through the Alliance, the organizations will continue to address and prevent exposures – such as electrical, fall, struck-by, caught-in-between, fire, explosion, lockout/tagout, and confined spaces – at major industrial and utility firms located in southwestern Illinois.

This renewal agreement provides a framework and objectives for the Alliance's activities. Alliance participants will summarize specific activities and timeframes for completion in a written work plan.

Through the Alliance, the organizations will use relevant injury, illness, and hazard exposure data when appropriate to help identify areas of emphasis for Alliance awareness, outreach, and communication activities. The Alliance will also explore and implement selected options to evaluate the effectiveness of the Alliance and measure the impact of its overall effort on improving workplace safety for employers and workers. In renewing this Alliance, OSHA, AASC, SIBTC, and COCA recognize that OSHA's State Plan and On-Site Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort, and that information about the products and activities of the Alliance may be shared with these partners for the advancement of common goals.

Raising Awareness of OSHA’s Rulemaking and Enforcement Initiatives

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following objectives related to raising awareness of OSHA's rulemaking and enforcement initiatives:

• To share publicly-available information on OSHA's National/Local Emphasis Programs and regulatory agenda.
• To share publicly-available information on occupational safety and health laws and standards, including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers.
• To convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on industrial construction and maintenance to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
• To encourage worker participation in workplace safety and health by obtaining feedback on the AASC activities through the Southwestern Illinois Building Trades Council.

Training and Education

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following training and education objectives:

• To develop effective training and education programs for industrial contractor, skilled trades, and other personnel regarding hazards in the industrial and utility sectors.
• To develop effective training and education programs to promote understanding of workers' rights, including the use of the OSHA complaint process, and the responsibilities of employers and to communicate such information to workers and employers.
• To further inform OSHA personnel through AASC and COCA training sessions of hazards specific to the industrial contracting and utility industries, including electrical, fall, struck-by, and caught-in-between.

Outreach and Communication

The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following outreach and communication objectives:

• To provide a forum for an OSHA representative to address the COCA Annual Conference on a biennial basis.
• To promote awareness of OSHA's Fall Prevention and Heat Campaigns.
• To develop information on the recognition and prevention of industrial construction or maintenance hazards and develop innovative ways of communicating such information; such as through print, electronic media, electronic assistance tools, OSHA's web site, etc. to safety professionals, employers, and workers in the commercial construction industry.
• To speak, exhibit, or appear at the annual Southern Illinois Occupational Safety & Health (SIOSH) Day event to share information among workers, employers, and industry safety and health professionals. Topics may include best practices or effective approaches through training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures developed by the participants.
• To develop and disseminate case studies on notable agency activities addressing industrial construction, maintenance, or utility events.

Summary

OSHA's Alliances provide parties an opportunity to participate in a voluntary cooperative relationship with OSHA for purposes such as raising awareness of OSHA's rulemaking and enforcement initiatives, training and education, and outreach and communication. These Alliances have proved to be valuable tools for both OSHA and its Alliance participants. By entering into an Alliance with a party, OSHA is not endorsing or promoting, nor does it intend to endorse or promote, any of that party's products or services.

An implementation team made up of representatives of each organization will meet to develop a work plan, determine working procedures, and identify the roles and responsibilities of the participants. In addition, they will meet at least two times per year to track and share information on activities and results in achieving the goals of the Alliance. OSHA team members will include representatives of the Fairview Heights Area Office and any other appropriate offices. OSHA will encourage State Plan States' and OSHA On-site Consultation Projects' participation on the team.

This agreement will remain in effect for five years from the date of the Alliance. Any signatory may terminate it for any reason at any time, provided they give 30 days written notice. This agreement may be modified at any time with the written concurrence of all signatories.

Signed this 15th day of February, 2019.